2013 nissan frontier Model Overview

Overall Rating:

StarStarStarNo-StarNo-Star

3 of 5

Vehicle Overview

Although midsize pickup sales pale in comparison to full-size trucks, the 2013 Nissan Frontier is a solid player in its admittedly small segment. For 2013, the Frontier is available with two engine options: a base 152-hp 2.5-liter I-4 with 171 lb-ft of torque available on two-wheel drive King Cab models and a 261-hp, 281 lb-ft 4.0-liter V-6 available on two- and four-wheel-drive King Cab and Crew Cab models. Four-cylinder models are mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission and are EPA rated 19/23 mpg city/highway and 17/23 mpg, respectively. With a 16/22 mpg rating, two-wheel-drive models with the more powerful V-6 have only a small fuel economy penalty whether equipped with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. Four-wheel-drive V-6 models are rated 16/21 mpg and 15/21 mpg with the six-speed manual and five-speed automatic, respectively.

In a 2010 Nissan Frontier First Drive, we liked the midsize pickup’s simplicity and powerful V-6 engine capable of “delivering reliable performance with little bravado. The five-speed automatic transmission, however, proves disappointing. It’s too eager to run through the gears, whether the truck is laden or not.” In conclusion, we said, “With a generous payload and 6100-pound towing capacity, plus a worry-free attitude, the Frontier can handle a lot of moving.” We tested a mechanically similar (and discontinued) 2012 Suzuki Equator RMZ-4 with the same 4.0-liter and five-speed automatic that hit 60 mph in 7.7 seconds and returned to a stop from 60 mph in 132 feet. Last year, a 2012 Nissan Frontier 4×4 PRO-4X King Cab with a V-6 and manual transmission was added to our long-term fleet
after a couple of Motor Trend staffers drove the pickup from Nissan’s Smyrna assembly plant in Tennessee to our Los Angeles offices. At the end of the trip, we said, “The pickup had gotten us through seven states in four days. We covered nearly 2300 miles, and the truck got 17-18 mpg in a combination of city driving and wide-open highway. If this trip is any indicator, the long-term Frontier is going to serve us well over the next year.”

With the 2013 Frontier, Nissan added a Desert Runner model to two-wheel models with the automatic transmission. The model comes with 16-inch alloy wheels with off-road BF Goodrich tires, Bilstein off-road shocks, special cloth seats and floor mats, fog lights, and Desert Runner decals and badge. A new Value Truck Package replaces the SV Premium Utility Package. The new package adds floor mats, dual climate control, backup camera and sensors, sliding bed extender, and a trailer hitch as well as a spray-in bedliner, fog lights, and tie-down equipment. All Frontier models get improved fuel economy due to improved aerodynamics for a lower front spoiler, rear tire wind deflector, a seal between the cab and the bed, and a new tailgate spoiler. Glacier White, Graphite Blue, and Cayenne Red are new exterior paint colors. The 2013 Nissan Frontier pickup has only been tested in the rollover test by the NHTSA where it received a three-star rating for rear-drive models and a four-star rating for four-wheel-drive models (out of a possible five stars) and is considered a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS for trucks built after November 2012.

New for 2013

A new Desert Runner model adds off-road equipment to two-wheel-drive models. New Value Truck Package replaces the SV Premium Utility Package with more features. Enhanced aerodynamics improves fuel economy and three new paint colors are available.

Key Competitors

Sum Up

2013 Nissan Frontier Pricing

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

$19,990

Certified Pre Owned Pricewhat is this?

$16,325

Certified Pre-Owned Price is the approximate price a consumer can expect to pay at a dealership for a used vehicle that has passed the manufacturer's certification process. This price applies only to vehicles covered under an automaker's CPO program, not to a dealership's own "certified" used price.

Recalls

The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.

Recall Date

0000-00-00

Description

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the A-pillar.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2013 Nissan Frontier News and Reviews

Here is a breakdown of the things we love and the things we've had to learn to live with in the past thirteen months behind the wheel of our long-term Nissan Frontier.Pros - It's simple and fun to drive. - SIZE: Easy to fit in tight parking spaces and navigate through narrow trails. - Everyone wants to be your friend…

Can You Hear Me Now?When we first picked up our Nissan Frontier, I was excited to have a vehicle with Bluetooth, which my previous daily driver didn't have. Getting my smart phone connected to the truck was easy and took only a couple of minutes to do. I love getting in and out of the truck knowing I'll never have…

We head to the Nissan dealer once again for another regularly scheduled maintenance visit as our odometer rolls over 22500 mile mark. If you have been following our monthly updates, this is our third visit in less than 11 months of ownership.Every new vehicle comes with an owner's manual. Vehicle books get overlooked and some times are never read by…

It's been a general consensus among all who get behind the wheel of our Nissan Frontier -- everyone loves the exterior but the old drab interior design lacks that new-car trendy appeal. The truck's exterior hasn't changed much in the past few years, but it's still a great looking compact truck. This truck has taken many of its drivers down…

Staffers at the Motor Trend headquarters were eager to get their hands on our 2012 Nissan Frontier. MT assistant art director William Walker used the Frontier to pick up a new project car and MT's managing editor Rusty Kurtz used it for a weekend of home improvements. - Melissa SpieringAccording to William Walker:I recently had the opportunity to use our…